Thanks to YOU, 46 Children Received Real Comfort When They Entered Foster Care!

By Denise Bash, Director of Special Projects

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a staggering 427,910 children entered the foster care system in 2015. Social Services or other law enforcement agencies remove children from their homes with little or no warning and for their own protection. To be removed, the children are usually suffering from neglect or other abuse. Typically they are only given a trash bag to collect their belongings. Most of these kids are in foster care for months to years, and sadly most will have more than one foster home placement before eventual adoption or return to home. GreaterGood.org has partnered with Together We Rise to help!

To help decrease trauma and increase self-esteem, Together We Rise offers children entering foster care across the nation “Sweet Cases.” This gift to the child includes a duffle bag, teddy bear, blanket, hygiene kit, crayons, and a coloring book. Sweet Cases are provided to foster care agencies, police departments, Child Protection Services, and foster parents.

With your support, 46 children were able to enter the foster system with a little less fear, trauma, and indignity. By supporting Together We Rise’s Sweet Cases Program, we can help more children like 7-year-old Antonio who sent a thank you note after he received his first toothbrush to call his own.

His foster mom wrote:

“I know you are super busy, but Antonio has asked me every day if you got his thank you card. He has enjoyed the bag so much and still takes it everywhere with him! He talks about you all the time and talks like y’all are best friends! He really struggles with self-esteem, and it is so wonderful to see him light up when he talks about his “team mates” and friends! We just wanted to re-express how grateful we are! Keep up the awesome work; it makes such a difference!!” – Darrick, Jennifer, Antonio, and baby Eric.